BlueBird
Junior Guinea Pig
Hi there,
If this is the incorrect place for this please move. I don't want to trigger anyone but didn't know where else to put this.
So the time has come. Our piggy journey has come to an end with a massive thump and I feel incredibly guilty about it.
Our last piggy (not counting her borrowed friend Peanut who's still with us) was Petal. She was only 2.5 maybe 3, was deaf and had had at least 2 strokes. Up until recently she was wobbly and underweight but still bright and seemingly happy. But on Tuesday it was clear she had had another stroke. This time on her previously strong side. This meant she was falling over onto her back all the time and while able to right herself eventually was quite distressing to watch. Her appetite has changed as well where she would only pick at food and drop bits.
We gave her 24hrs to see how she was. Her mobility seemed to improve but her appetite seemed to get worse. I don't tend to support feed unless it's an injury, post op or sudden down turn before we get a diagnosis from the vet. Food is guinea pigs greatest happiness and if they aren't eating they probably don't want to be here anymore. So this morning when I had to turf her out of bed and watch her spend 20mins just sniffing at breakfast maybe picking a few items up before dropping them the decision was made.
What broke my heart was she was still interested in us, coming up to the bars to say hello. Last night she even squeaked for food that she then only nibbled at. So it was heart breaking to PTS when she was so so so young and also showing signs of lucidity and happiness.
I also have horrible feelings of guilt. We love our guineas but that is a bit of a curse. Guineas are so delicate, they get ill so easily which is hard every time. I also have a funeral to go to next weekend for my grandmother. It was a big logistical nightmare before her most recent stroke about whether my husband could come to support me or whether he needed to be home to look after Petal l. We didn't want to stress her with a move and getting friends to look after our fragile, disabled pet didn't seem fair. So because we were winding down our piggy cycle I'm conflicted by thoughts of was the PTS for her or was it convenient. Did I hurry her along because I didn't want guineas anymore?
I think it was in her best interest in the end. I describe it like if she had been human before tuesday she would have had to use a stick to walk, have a carer make her dinner and had slurred speech. But after Tuesday she would have been in a wheelchair with only a few lucid moments and possibly needed to be spoon fed or even fed via tube. Which isn't great quality of life for a guinea pig.
I think I would have been happier if my vet had given me a bit more reassurance I was doing the right thing for her. But he was just trying to get it over for us as quickly as possible. I get why. Seeing a grown woman in his office blubbing uncontrollably over a guinea pig isn't nice. And ripping the plaster off quick was probably the kindest. But I just needed to hear "you're making the right decision" "you're not a monster for doing this".
If this is the incorrect place for this please move. I don't want to trigger anyone but didn't know where else to put this.
So the time has come. Our piggy journey has come to an end with a massive thump and I feel incredibly guilty about it.
Our last piggy (not counting her borrowed friend Peanut who's still with us) was Petal. She was only 2.5 maybe 3, was deaf and had had at least 2 strokes. Up until recently she was wobbly and underweight but still bright and seemingly happy. But on Tuesday it was clear she had had another stroke. This time on her previously strong side. This meant she was falling over onto her back all the time and while able to right herself eventually was quite distressing to watch. Her appetite has changed as well where she would only pick at food and drop bits.
We gave her 24hrs to see how she was. Her mobility seemed to improve but her appetite seemed to get worse. I don't tend to support feed unless it's an injury, post op or sudden down turn before we get a diagnosis from the vet. Food is guinea pigs greatest happiness and if they aren't eating they probably don't want to be here anymore. So this morning when I had to turf her out of bed and watch her spend 20mins just sniffing at breakfast maybe picking a few items up before dropping them the decision was made.
What broke my heart was she was still interested in us, coming up to the bars to say hello. Last night she even squeaked for food that she then only nibbled at. So it was heart breaking to PTS when she was so so so young and also showing signs of lucidity and happiness.
I also have horrible feelings of guilt. We love our guineas but that is a bit of a curse. Guineas are so delicate, they get ill so easily which is hard every time. I also have a funeral to go to next weekend for my grandmother. It was a big logistical nightmare before her most recent stroke about whether my husband could come to support me or whether he needed to be home to look after Petal l. We didn't want to stress her with a move and getting friends to look after our fragile, disabled pet didn't seem fair. So because we were winding down our piggy cycle I'm conflicted by thoughts of was the PTS for her or was it convenient. Did I hurry her along because I didn't want guineas anymore?
I think it was in her best interest in the end. I describe it like if she had been human before tuesday she would have had to use a stick to walk, have a carer make her dinner and had slurred speech. But after Tuesday she would have been in a wheelchair with only a few lucid moments and possibly needed to be spoon fed or even fed via tube. Which isn't great quality of life for a guinea pig.
I think I would have been happier if my vet had given me a bit more reassurance I was doing the right thing for her. But he was just trying to get it over for us as quickly as possible. I get why. Seeing a grown woman in his office blubbing uncontrollably over a guinea pig isn't nice. And ripping the plaster off quick was probably the kindest. But I just needed to hear "you're making the right decision" "you're not a monster for doing this".
